Isla Vista
Census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California
Isla Vista is an unincorporated community (census-designated place) in Santa Barbara County, California, with 15,500 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 46 ft (14 m) above sea level. The nearest town is University of California-Santa Barbara, 0.9 miles NE.
- 15,500residents (2020 Census)
- 46 ftelevation · 14 m
- 0.6 sq miland area · 1.4 km²
- 28,113 / sq mipopulation density
- 93106ZIP code
About Isla Vista
Isla Vista (English: EYE-luh VIS-tuh; Spanish: [ˈisla ˈβista], lit. 'island view') is an unincorporated community in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. As of 2020 census, the community had a population of 15,500. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined the community as a census-designated place (CDP). The majority of residents are college students at the University of California, Santa Barbara, or Santa Barbara City College. The beachside community of Isla Vista lies on a flat plateau about 30 feet (9 m) in elevation, separated from the beach by a bluff.
Isla Vista enjoys a Mediterranean climate and often has slightly less precipitation than Santa Barbara and Goleta. Isla Vista is located on a south-facing portion of the Santa Barbara County coast, between Coal Oil Point and Campus Point in view of the Channel Islands. During El Niño years, precipitation in Isla Vista can be excessive and potentially dangerous. Some homes and apartments built on the south side of Del Playa Drive, most popular with students due to their direct ocean views, are built on eroding bluffs thirty to sixty feet above the Pacific Ocean. Recent erosion has exposed foundation supports in several of the properties closest to the nearby UC Santa Barbara campus.
As Isla Vista is on the south coast of Santa Barbara County, which has some of the highest housing prices in the United States, the student population shares densely packed housing with a working class Hispanic population. While the main campus is to the east, the community is surrounded on three sides by university property governed by the state Board of Regents.
Isla Vista is home to a student housing cooperative, the Santa Barbara Student Housing Coop, as well as a food cooperative, the Isla Vista Food Co-op.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Isla Vista weather: 7-day forecast
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- Median household income
- $25,972
- Median home value
- $1,218,800
- Median rent
- $1,878/mo
- Median age
- 21.2
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Map of Isla Vista
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Open in Google Maps ›Isla Vista, CA population
Isla Vista had 15,500 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 15,500 |
|---|---|
| Density | 28,113 per sq mi (10,854 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Isla Vista at a glance
| State | California (CA) |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Barbara County |
| Type | Census-designated place |
| Population | 15,500 (2020) |
| Land area | 0.55 sq mi (1.4 km²) |
| Water area | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km²) |
| Elevation | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Coordinates | 34.4122° N, 119.8607° W |
| ZIP code | 93106 |
| Official website | islavistacsd.ca.gov |
| Census code (GEOID) | 0636868 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Isla Vista
- University of California-Santa Barbara0.9 mi NE
- Goleta1.6 mi N
- Eastern Goleta Valley5.1 mi NE
- Santa Barbara8.4 mi E
- Mission Canyon8.7 mi E
- Montecito13.0 mi E
- Summerland15.6 mi E
- Toro Canyon17.0 mi E
- Santa Ynez19.5 mi NW
- Carpinteria20.2 mi E
- Solvang20.2 mi NW
- Ballard21.3 mi NW
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Isla Vista
What county is Isla Vista in?
Isla Vista is in Santa Barbara County, California.
What is the population of Isla Vista, CA?
15,500 people lived in Isla Vista at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Isla Vista, CA?
The ZIP code of Isla Vista is 93106.
What is the elevation of Isla Vista?
46 feet (14 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Isla Vista?
University of California-Santa Barbara (0.9 mi), Goleta (1.6 mi), Eastern Goleta Valley (5.1 mi), Santa Barbara (8.4 mi), Mission Canyon (8.7 mi).
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